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Alberta's Aviation Heritage
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Lieutenant George Gorman

George Gorman was from Edmonton and became a Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. He participated in the battle of Amiens in France during August 1918, where the combined allied force of infantry, artillery, tanks, and air power struck a decisive victory against an increasingly demoralized Germany military.

On 8 August 1918, Lieutenant Gorman was flying a Sopwith Camel supporting a bombing mission to destroy the bridge at Voyennes, which the German army was using to transport reinforcements. The bridge also offered an escape route to the German army if the allied advance continued as fast as it had on the first day of the attack.

During the bombing mission, one direct hit was reported on the bridge, but one DH9 bomber and two Camels went down. George Gorman was piloting one of these fallen Camels and was forced to land in enemy territory, making him a Prisoner of War.

After the war George Gorman returned to Edmonton where he turned to civilian flying, joining other World War I pilots, like Wop May.

George Gorman returned after the First World WarGorman was well known for being one of the first to fly into the Northwest Territories, up the Mackenzie River to Fort Norman for Imperial Oil’s new oil discovery in 1921.  The purpose of the flight was to find out if it was feasible to supply northern locations with air services. Two Junkers named the Vic and the Rene were selected for the flight. Gorman piloted one and the other was flown by Elmer Garfield Fullerton.

 

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